Cher was 22 years old when she gave birth to daughter Chastity on March 4, 1969. Very few children who weren't actors (like Shirley Temple) or the offspring of presidents (e.g., Caroline and John-John Kennedy) received the amount of media attention as Chastity Bono. As a toddler she was carried out on stage by her parents to say good night at the end of every telecast of their CBS variety show, The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour (which began as a summer replacement series in 1971 when Chastity was 2-1/2 years old.)
Once the show went off the air in the mid-70's Chastity was able to grow up without the glare of cameras. However, attention returned when she was a young adult. First, she started a band named Ceremony and then she came out in the Advocate in 1995. Her visibility took off upon becoming a guest columnist for the magazine, took a high profile positon with GLAAD and became a spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign.
And then in 2009 Chastity captured more headlines by announcing that she was transitioning to a male and had her name legally changed to Chaz Bono. A documentary about this transition, titled Becoming Chaz, premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival and in May 2011 had its TV premiere on Oprah Winfrey's new OWN cable network. Then in the fall of 2011 Chaz was chosen to compete on ABC's Dancing with the Stars. More recently, Chaz went on a weight loss program and slimmed down, losing nearly 50 pounds by February 2013.
Chaz's story about coming out to his parents (about five years before his public announcement) is told in the 1998 book Family Outing while a second book The End of Innocence: A Memoir, published in 2003, talks about his band and some trying relationships.
In November 1992, during ABC sitcom Roseanne's fifth season, Sandra Bernhard's character Nancy was introduced as the first regularly occurring lesbian character in a TV show. Sixteen months later on March 1, 1994 (at the end of Nielsen's February ratings "sweeps") Nancy's girlfriend Sharon, played by Mariel Hemingway, kissed Roseanne at a lesbian bar. Roseanne went to Lanford's bar "Lips" to prove how "cool" she was; however, she became unnerved by this 5-second kiss and realized that perhaps she wasn't as "hip" as she thought. (Hemingway had also portrayed a lesbian in the 1982 movie Personal Best.)
On the February 20, 2005 episode of The Simpsons (titled "There's Something About Marrying") same-sex marriage was legalized in Springfield as a way to attract tourists. This results in Marge's sister, Patty Bouvier, coming out and announcing her intention to marry her partner Veronica, a pro golfer. When Homer learns how much he can earn performing same-sex ceremonies he becomes a minister and marries Patty (which is ironic since Patty, as well as her twin sister Selma, have nothing but contempt for Homer). Alas, it was later revealed that Veronica was a man.
Having same-sex marriage as a storyline on a mainstream TV show (a favorite with young men) was an important milestone in the fight for legalization of same-sex marriage. The attendant publicity brought awareness up a few more notches - anathema to the religious right, which frets whenever gay issues gain exposure.
This episode of The Simpsons aired a little more than a year after Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to legalize same-sex unions. And it just so happens that there is a city named Springfield in the state. However, the show's writers have never indicated in which state their Springfield is located (there are 38 cities, towns and townships named Springfield in the U.S.).
(For whatever reason Season 16 isn't yet available on DVD, just seasons 1 thru 13.)
Ross' ex-wife Carol (pictured, far right) and her lesbian partner Susan were married on the January 18, 1996 episode of NBC's hit sitcom Friends. And because Carol's parents refused to attend the wedding, Ross walked her down the aisle. The ceremony was performed by Candace Gringrich (pictured, center), Newt's lesbian half-sister who rose to the periphery of celebritydom after Newt became Speaker of the House.
Surprisingly, this episode's audience was no larger than usual for the popular show nor was there much of a fuss about the episode. Eight months later President Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) into law. And on January 18 of 2004 the lesbian drama The L Word debuted on Showtime.
Buoyed by the success of Queer as Folk (which debuted at the end of 2000) Showtime produced a 1-hour drama about a group of lesbian friends and lovers called The L Word. It premiered on January 18, 2004.
Except for their same-sex themes the two series were very different: 1) QAF took place in Rust Belt Pittsburgh while The L Word was set in sunny and trendy Los Angeles/West Hollywood. 2) The L Word had more "name" actresses: Jennifer Beals, Pam Grier, Marlee Matlin and Cybil Shepherd. QAF had one, Sharon Gless. 3) QAF had a lesbian couple (Lindsay and Melanie) but L Word incorporated very little about the lives of gay men into its storylines. 4) The L Word ran for six seasons, one more than Queer as Folk. However, QAF aired thirteen more episodes (83 vs. 70).
After the series concluded in March 2009 Showtime aired a reality series that came out in the summer of 2010 called The Real L Word.
In 1972 That Certain Summer aired, a landmark TV movie about a father revealing his homosexuality to his teenage son. Six years later, on November, 26, 1978, ABC again aired another critically acclaimed movie about gay issues, A Question of Love. It told the story of a lesbian couple drawn into a child custody battle by an ex-husband who disapproves of their lifestyle. The lesbian couple was played by the illustrious Gena Rowlands and Jane Alexander. The next high profile movie about lesbians would be 16 years later when Glenn Close and Judy Davis starred in Serving in Silence.
The day after this critically acclaimed movie aired would turn out to be a dark one in gay history as Harvey Milk, an openly gay city supervisor in San Francisco was shot dead (along with mayor George Moscone) by a disgruntled former co-worker.
On the November 10, 1992 episode of Roseanne Roseanne's friend Nancy, played by comic/actress Sandra Bernhard (pictured in the middle), came out as a lesbian. This was a TV milestone as this was the first regular lesbian character in a sitcom. It followed by 15 years Billy Crystal's pioneering role as a gay male character (Jodie Dallas) on the ABC sitcom Soap.
I've always confused Bernhard's name with that of famed 19th century British actress Sarah Bernhardt. Physically, she reminds me of a more telegenic and less sour version of lesbian author/pundit Fran Lebowitz (who was part of the zeitgeist of the 70's/80's). In the fall of 1994 I saw Bernhard's one-woman show up in Boston at the Orpheum Theatre. I've also crossed paths with her in my neighborhood - a few times at Crunch Fitness (working with a trainer) and once at Balducci's (now Citarella) where she was wearing a dazzling white track suit.
Bernhard was somewhat of an acquired taste but she became a gay icon in the late 80's and through the following decade. Her star rose during the five or six years she and Madonna were "gal pals" (she made a cameo in Madge's 1991 documentary Truth or Dare). They were always teasing about a lesbian relationship so Bernhard's sapphic role in Roseanne wasn't a stretch.
Roseanne was a perfect reflection of its star, i.e. "ballsy", and a pioneering show when it came to gay characters. At the luncheonette where Roseanne's character worked, she had a gay boss, Leon (played by Martin Mull), who had a commitment ceremony and talked of adopting a child. Also, Roseanne's mother, Bev, came out in the show's last season. However, the biggest fuss was made during the 1993/94 season when Nancy's girlfriend (played by Mariel Hemingway) kissed Roseanne at a lesbian bar. Pretty progressive stuff for the blue collar heartland (Lanford, Illinois), wouldn't you say?
Writer/essayist Susan Sontag (1933-2004) made a name for herself, mostly in intellectual circles, in the autumn of 1964 when she penned an essay in the quarterly Partisan Review titled "Notes on Camp". In it she articulated for the first time the concept of "Camp", a way of seeing the world that seems to be innate in many gay men and somewhat of a "secret code" among them. Basically, it is the ability to find delight in the unintentionally inane, often created in all seriousness.
Sontag's essay is comprised of 58 numbered "notes" about Camp (notes 51-53 address homosexuals' affinity for it). Double click here to read the essay. A myriad of examples are cited throughout; for those not motivated to click on the link, here are some examples of Camp I've selected:
Ethel Merman's 1979 disco album (released two weeks shy of her 71st birthday)
Carol Channing's and "Up With People's" halftime performances at some early Super Bowls (which didn't take on the sheen of Camp until some 20-25 years later)
The Liberace Museum in Las Vegas (closed in 2011)
Singer Rufus Wainwright's tribute to Judy Garland's acclaimed 1961 Carnegie Hall concert
Movies such as The Women (below), All About Eve, Auntie Mame and Valley of the Dolls
Liberace's appearance on stage at a Labor Day performance in Minneapolis wearing red, white & blue sequined hot pants
Pee Wee's Playhouse, which aired on CBS's Saturday AM lineup of kids shows
Choreographer Busby Berkeley's mesmerizing creations of chorus girls forming geometric patterns in movies such as 42nd Street, Ziegfeld Follies, and Dames.
Faye Dunaway as Joan Crawford inMommie Dearest, an over-the-top performance that some think ended her career as a serious actress
Ethel Merman's guest appearance on ABC's Batman as "Lola Lasagne"
Ellen and Anne were the Brad and Angelina of the late 1990's. They seemed to turn up everywhere and photos of the "It Couple" seemed to appear daily. Perhaps the media's fascination was due to the novelty back then of an out, same-sex celebrity couple. Ellen and Anne were together for three years and announced their break-up on August 21, 2000.
Heche, 11 years DeGeneres' junior, claimed she was never truly a lesbian and shortly after their break-up married a man. (She had also dated a string of men before her relationship with DeGeneres.) The end of that relationship also got attention because of a nasty child custody fight in which Heche was portrayed as being mentally unstable. The media had a field day with Heche and her tabloid-worthy troubles. Her 2001 memoir was titled, somewhat appropriataely, Call Me Crazy.
DeGeneres' career has skyrocketed since her split with Heche. She's hosted the Emmy's and Academy Awards; been a judge on American Idol; was the voice of the fish Dory in the animated hit movie Finding Nemo; been a spokesperson for American Express and Cover Girl cosmetics; and her Daytime talk show has been on the air since 2003. Since 2004 she's been in a relationship with actress Portia de Rossi - which has also gotten its share of publicity - but not nearly as much as the relationship with Heche.
Since the break up Heche's career has been spent largely on TV, including roles in Nip/Tuck, HBO's Hung and the short-lived ABC series Men in Trees. She also appeared in the revival of the Broadway musical Twenthieth Century, which earned her a Tony nomination. She's presently in a relationship with her Men in Trees co-star Justin Tupper (pictured, left) who she had a child with two years ago.
Here's a question that wouldn't look out of place on an SAT exam: Which pair doesn't belong?
Betty & Wilma
Betty & Veronica
Lucy & Ethel
Laverne & Shirley
Peppermint Patty & Marcie?
Of course, the correct answer is Peppermint Patty and Marcie as they are the only duo with hints of a lesbian vibe between them.
Nearly 20 years before the smitten Smithers and Mr. Burns were introduced on The Simpsons, Marcie made her first appearance in the comic strip Peanuts as Peppermint Patty's devoted friend. She was famous for always addressing Patty as "sir". The strip introducing her ran on July 20, 1971.
While not as obvious as the deep crush Smithers has for his boss, Mr. Burns, there is something unspoken going on between the two girls - even if they are unaware of it (and Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz denied it). And the fact that the two of them have vied for Charlie Brown's attention suggests that their radars aren't working properly. After all, what straight girl in her right mind would be interested in Charlie Brown? ("Girly-girls" Lucy and Violet certainly aren't.)
And the debate rages on in the salons of Northampton, Smith College and Cherry Grove.
